On 14th July, a Hindu family was attacked during a Muharram procession near Sardarganj Chowk in Dalsinghsarai, Bihar. While the media claimed the incident took place after a clash between the two groups, the family asserted that the attack was deliberate.
दलसिंहसराय NH-28 चौराहे पर असामाजिक तत्वों ने कार सवार परिवार पर तलवार व डंडे से किया हमला, बाल-बाल बची जान, पुलिस से नहीं मिली मदद…@Samastipur_Pol @bihar_police#Samastipur #dalsinghsarai #apnasamastipur #news #samastipur_town pic.twitter.com/9NzMHLjD4i
— Samastipur Town (@samastipurtown) July 14, 2024
According to the police, two groups of Islamists created a ruckus while playing Tajia. The mob broke the glass panes of several vehicles. The situation escalated further when Amitesh Kumar, a resident of Basoli, Madhubani, was driving through Nawada Sardarganj Chowk with his wife Sadhna Kumari and their son. Amitesh stated that some Islamists from the Muharram procession attacked his car with a sword. The glass of the car got shattered injuring the minor son.
In a statement, the family described the attack as unprovoked. Amitesh insisted on the fact that they were not in the path of the procession, yet the mob attacked them. He said, “I was driving slowly, on the side, not obstructing the procession. Suddenly, they pulled out swords and attacked our car from all sides. My son, who was in the back seat, got injured.” Amitesh pointed out that he identified some of the attendees of the procession. He and his wife said, “They attacked us without any reason. I was driving slowly on the side, the procession was there, and some of their members, whom I recognised, attacked us. We recognised them very well. When they are caught, it will be understood why they attacked.”
As the mob got unruly around Sardarganj Chowk, the passersby and other drivers fled the scene. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Vivek Kumar Sharma said in a statement that the altercation between the two local groups started over carrying soil. The car of Amitesh Kumar got caught in the crossfire. DSP Sharma said that an FIR has been registered in the matter and CCTV footage is being reviewed to identify the culprits. He assured that strict action would be taken against the accused.
Though an investigation into the matter has been initiated by the police on the complaint of Amitesh Kumar, he said in a statement that despite repeated calls for assistance, no immediate help arrived from the authorities. He expressed his frustration and said, “We called the administration several times, but no one came. It feels like a major mishap could have happened, and there’s no accountability.”
Provocative slogans raised during Muharram procession in Amethi outside police station
On 14th July, a mob of Islamists reportedly raised slogans of “Hindustan mein rehna hai, Ya Hussain kehna hai” (If you want to live in India, you have to say ‘Ya Hussain’) outside Musafirkhana Police Station in Amethi. The incident happened during the Muharram procession. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Police have filed an FIR in the matter and some of the suspects have been detained.
